Thunderbolt 1/19/2023

COMMENTARY

byJim Garamone DODNews |

Solong, FortBragg. Hello, FortLiberty.

TheNamingCommissionprocessisnowoverandthe namesofbases, posts, ships, streetsandmorenamedafterConfederatesoldiers will change.

William A.LaPlante, theundersecretary of defensefor acquisition andsustainment,todaydirectedallDODorganizationstobeginfull implementationoftheCommissionontheNamingofItemsofthe Department ofDefenserecommendations. LaPlanteactedattheend ofa90-day waiting periodthatbegan aftertheNamingCommission releasedits thirdandfinalreportin September.

Secretary of DefenseLloyd J. AustinIIIacceptedtherenamingrecommendationsinSeptember

Theservicesandother DODagencieshaveuntiltheendoftheyear to completetheprocess.

RetiredNavyAdm.MichelleHoward chairedthecongressionally mandatedNamingCommission. The commission’s mission wastoprovideremovalandrenamingrecommendationsforallDODitems“that commemoratetheConfederateStates ofAmerica orany personwho servedvoluntarilywith theConfederateStatesofAmerica.”

WhileArmybasesarethemostconspicuous examples, manyinstallationshavestreetnamesorbuildingsnamed afterConfederates The Navy willrenamethecruiser USSChancellorsville, whichcommemoratesa Confederatevictory, andtheUSNSMaury—namedafter a

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca

Editor:NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper is an authorized publicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsedbythe U.S. government,the Departmentof Defense,

theDepartmentoftheAirForceorthe6thAirRefueling Wing.

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NewsitemsfortheMacDillThunderboltcanbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice,8208HangarLoopDr.,suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderbolt

AirForce releasespolicyonMilitary ParentalLeaveProgram

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—TheDepartment of theAir ForceannouncedtheexpansionoftheMilitary ParentalLeaveProgramfor AirmenandGuardians viaguidancememorandum, whichmirrors the DepartmentofDefense’sDirective-type Memorandum23-001– “Expansion of theMilitary ParentalLeaveProgram.”

EffectiveDec. 27, 2022,theupdatedpolicy authorizes birthparents 12weeksofparentalleave followingaprovider-recommendedperiodof convalescent leaveandnon-birthparents 12 weeksof leavefollowing thebirth of their child.Thepolicyalsograntsadoptiveparentsandeligible foster parents12weeks of parentalleave.

Previously, birthparentsreceivedsix weeks ofparentalleavefollowing their convalescentleave, andnon-birthparentsreceived 21 days. Theexpansionisin accordancewiththeNationalDefenseAuthorizationAct for Fiscal Year2022.ItalsobuildsontheDoD’ssupportof militaryfamiliesandservicemembersbystreamliningandenhancingtheparentalleavebenefitforactiveandreservecomponentservice members(onactivedutyfor12monthsormore)who givebirth, adopt a childorprovide long-termfostercare.

Memberswhowereonmaternityconvalescentleaveorcaregiver leaveonDec. 27, 2022,before thenewpolicywentintoeffect,willalso receivethe expandedbenefit.

Boththebirthand non-birthparentscan takethe leaveadministered inaccordance with thepoliciesandproceduresoutlinedintheDAFGM. Theexpansionof the MPLP, which appliesto alleligibleservicemembersasof Dec. 27,2022,takesprecedenceoverpreviousDoDissuances andservice regulations.

TheDAFGM is locatedhere.

Additional FAQsare locatedhere.

Examples:

EXAMPLE1.Aservicememberadopteda childonDec. 27,2022. Thismemberiseligibletotakeupto12weeksofnon-chargeableleave inaccordance withDAFGM2023-01para 3.2.2.10.2.

EXAMPLE2.Aservicememberdesignated as theprimary caregiver isgranted6weeksofmaternityconvalescent leavefollowingthebirth of a childanduses only3of the6weeksasofDec. 27, 2022. Since the member willhave unused caregiverleave as ofDec. 27, 2022, theywould be eligibletotransitiontotheexpandedparentalleavepolicyandtake up to12weeksofnon-chargeableleaveafterconvalescentleave endsin accordancewithDAFGM2023-01 para3.2.2.10.2.

EXAMPLE3.AnAirmanadopteda childonNov. 25,2022,thenstarted secondarycaregiverleave onDec. 15, 2022.Since theAirman took leaveinaconsecutive increment from Dec. 15,2022, toDec 26,2022 (12days),theremainingcaregiver leave daysautomaticallyconverted

AirForceoutlinesnewBodyComposition ProgramforAirmen,Guardians

Secretaryof theAirForcePublic Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—TheDepartment of the Air Forceisestablishing newBodyCompositionProgramstandards for Airmenand Guardians after the abdominalcircumference wasremovedfromthe Air Force-specificPhysical FitnessAssessmentin2020.

BoththeAirandSpace Forcesreleasedthe new Waist-to-HeightRatioBCPpolicyin January, with assessmentstobeginApril2023. The BodyCompositionAssessment isaseparateanddistinctmeasurement thatis notpart of theDAF Physical FitnessAssessment.

WHtR measures excessfat distributionin the abdominalregion and is calculated by dividing waistcircumferencebyheight. Excess fat distributionintheabdominalregionisassociatedwithincreasedhealth risk.

“ThegoalofthenewprogramistoempowerAirmentotake charge of their healthandfitness throughlifestyle enhancementto optimize readiness,” saidLt.Gen.CarolineMiller, deputy chiefofstaffforManpower, PersonnelandServices. “Regardlessofwhichrisk category they fallin,everyoneisencouragedtotakeadvantageoftheresources availabletoimprove ormaintainahealthybodycomposition.”

Bodycompositionservesasanindicatorofamember’soverallhealth

andphysicalreadiness. DepartmentofDefenseInstruction1308.03, DoDPhysical Fitness/Body CompositionProgram, mandates the BCP as arequirement.Excessfat in theabdominalregionimpairsthebody’s responsivenesstoinsulin.Asaresult, itcontributestoincreasedhealth riskssuchascardiovasculardiseases, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and musculoskeletalinjuries, negatively impactingphysical readiness.

TheDAFBCPdefines the waistasthemidpointbetween the lowest riband the topofthehipbone, which is normallythe narrowestportion oftheabdomen. WHtRisexpressedinthefollowingriskcategories and associatedstandards:

MeetingStandard (Low-Moderate Risk): (WHtR<0.55)

Not Meeting Standard(High Risk): (WHtR > 0.55)

Airmenand Guardians willmaintainaWHtRof <0.55tomeet the BCPstandards. Airmenwillcompletetheirassessmentsannually around theirbirthmonth,while Guardians willcompleteitwithintheir birthquarter.

Therearenomandatoryactions for AirmenandGuardiansmeeting theBCPstandards, however, memberswill have theirWHtRreviewed during theirannualmedical PeriodicHealth Assessment.Theywillre-

DoD rescindsCOVID-19 vaccinationmandate

Secretaryof theAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—On Jan.10, Secretary ofDefenseLloyd J. AustinIIIrescindedtheAug. 24, 2021,memorandummandatingthatmembersofthe Armed ForcesunderDepartmentofDefense authority bevaccinatedagainstCOVID-19,andthememorandum ofNov. 30,2021, pertainingtothevaccinationofNationalGuardandReservepersonnel.Thisrescissionrequirement wasestablishedbythe JamesM.InhofeNationalDefenseAuthorizationActfor Fiscal Year 2023.

Thehealthandreadinessofthe Forcearecrucialto theDepartment’sabilitytodefendournation.Austin continuestoencourageallservicemembers, civilian employees, andcontractorpersonneltogetvaccinated andboostedagainstCOVID-19toensure Total Force readiness.

by Tech. Sgt. BradleyTipton 927th AirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

The927thAirRefueling WingMissionSupportGroup welcomedtheirnewcommander, Col.AsanBui,duringa changeofcommand ceremony atMacDill Air ForceBase Jan. 6. Col.KurtMatthews, 927thAirRefueling Wingcommander, presidedovertheceremony, passingtheunit’s guidonfromCol Alan Tornayto Bui.

“I wanttoreturnthehonortothosewho havegivenmetheprivilegetoservethisgreat nation,” saidBui.“I’mlookingforwardtothis new chapterwiththe challengesahead,new experiencesandrelationships, andtowhat thefuturebringsas TeamMacDill workstogether, enablingintegrateddeterrenceagainst near-peer adversaries.”

The927thMissionSupportGroupencompassesmorethan250officer, enlistedand civilianpersonnelassignedtothesecurity forces, forcesupportandlogisticsreadiness squadrons.

Ascommander, Buiisresponsibleforoversight, managementandresourceadvocacyin manpower, militaryandcivilian personnel, training, facilityand public works, security, logisticsandcommunicationsfortheReserve wing.

Buihasledthroughoutavarietyoforganizationsincludingtwoassignmentswithin the JointCommunicationsSupportElement, MacDillAFB, Fla.,and920thCommunications Flight,PatrickSpace ForceBase, Fla. Hismilitaryjourneybeganwiththe U.S. Navy asanenlistedsubmarine yeomanhowever, his connectiongoesbacktobirth.Bui’s familyescaped Vietnambyafishingboataf-

tertheendofthe Vietnam WarinMayof1975 and wererescuedinthe South ChinaSeaby a U.S. Navycarrieruponwhichhe waslater born.

“Thejourneyherehasbeenahumblingexperience;learningnewculturesandskills, but mostlymeetingexceptionalpeoplealongthe

waywhoare nowpartofmyfamily,” saidBui. ReturningtoMacDillasacommanderof CitizenAirmen, Buisaidheisdedicatedto leadingthemenandwomenwho provideinstallationsupport.The927thMissionSupportGroupstandsreadytotrain, developand equip combat-readyAirmen.

PhotobyStaffSgt.AlexisSuarez

ColKurtMatthews,927thAir RefuelingWingcommander,passes the guidontoCol. Asan Q.Bui, 927thMissionSupportGroupcommanderduringachangeofcommand ceremonyon MacDillAir ForceBaseJan. 7. Theguidon isasymbolof commandthroughouttheU.S. military.

AerialRefuelingAdds LethalitytoDOD Aviation

byDavid Vergun DOD News

Globalreachisanimportantaspectofthe U.S. military’s warfightingability, andaerialrefuelinghelpstomakeglobalreach areality.

Aerialrefueling—alsocalledair-to-airrefuelingandtanking—is theprocessoftransferringfuelfromamilitarytankeraircrafttoanothermilitaryaircraft, includingfixed-wingjets and helicopters.

Flyingboomsmakethispossible, withthetankerflyingaheadat anelevatedpositionandthereceivingaircraftflyingbehindandlowerwithareceiver. Aboomoperatorinthetankerlowerstheflying boom.Somemilitaryaircraftuseahose-and-droguemethodinstead ofa flyingboom,but the operationofbothtypesissimilar.

Thegoalofaerialrefuelingistoextendtherangeortimeanaircraftcanremainintheair. Aerialrefuelingalsosavestimebecause theaircraftdoesn’thavetolandtorefuel.

Italsobenefitsaircraftoperatingonshortrunways, whi ch have tolimittheirtakeoffweighttobeable cleartheendoftherunway. A tanker flyingoverheadcanthenrefueltheplaneonceit’sairborne.

Thefirstair-to-airrefuelingtookplacein1923betweentwoDe HavilandDH-4BArmyAirServiceairplanes. During World WarII, theArmyAir ForcesmodifiedB-24Liberators, sotheybecametankersthatrefueledtheB-17Flying Fo rtress, extendingthebombers’ rangeto 1,500miles.

Butit wa sn ’tuntilafter Wo rld Wa rIIthataerialrefueling was usedonalargescale.

Today, theKC-135Stratotankerprovidesthe coreaerialrefueling capabilityfortheAir Force. Italsoprovidesaerialrefuelingsupport toAir Force, Navy, MarineCorpsandaircraftofalliednations. KC135scanevenrefueltwoaircraftsimultaneously.

Throughtheyears, theKC-135hasbeenalteredtodootherjobs, suchas—flyingcommandpostmissionsandreconnaissanc e. The KC-135fleetisaging;itsreplacement,theKC-46 Pe gasus, willreplacetheolderStratotankers.

Thefirst Pegasus wasdeliveredtotheAir Forcein January2019. ThelastKC-135isnotexpectedtoberetireduntil2040,whenthey’ll be80yearsold.

TheNavyhasasquadronofKC-130FHerculesrefuelers, andthe MarineCorpshasasquadron ofKC-130THerculesrefuelers.

TheMarineCorpsrecentlyexperimentedwithground-to-ground refuelingoftheF-35Bjointstrikefighter TheMV-22Ospreycancarryabout12,000poundsoffuel,andthereareplansforittohaveairto-airrefueling capability to keep F-35Bfighters aloftlonger.

AMarineCorpsMV-22B Osprey receivesfuelfromaKC-130JSuperHerculesfromMarineAerial

Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Williams

to72daysonDec. 27,22(84days–12 =72days)andcan betakenin multipleincrementsof 7days or more The membermusttaketheremaining72daysbyNov. 24, 2023,or forfeittheleave.

EXAMPLE 4. Aservicememberdesignatedasasecondarycaregiveruses2ofthe3weeksofcaregiverleave asofDec. 27,2022. WiththeservicememberhavingunusedcaregiverleaveasofDec 27,2022,they wouldbe eligible totransitiontothe expandedparentalleavepolicyand take up to10weeksofnon-chargeableleave, as theypreviouslytook2 weeks.

EXAMPLE5.Aservicememberdesignatedastheprimarycaregiveruses5ofthe6weeksofcaregiverleave asofDec. 27,2022.Sincetheservicememberhasunused caregiverleaveasof Dec. 27,2022,they wouldbeableto take7weeks of parental leave, for5weekswerepreviously taken.

EXAMPLE6. Aservicememberdidnottakeallofthe authorizedcaregiver leave in oneincrement.TheremainingcaregiverleavewouldnotconverttotheMPLPbecauseanyleavetaken underthepreviouscaregiverleave policycouldonlybetakenat onetimeand wasforfeited whentheleaveperiodended;multipleleaveeventswere not authorized.

EXAMPLE7. AGuardianhada child Jan.15, 2022, butdidnottakesecondarycaregiverleave yet.The 3 weeksofcaregiverleaveconvertsto12weeksofparental leaveonDec. 27, 2022. However, underMPLP, members musttakeparentalleavewithinoneyear. Allunused leave nottakenby Jan.14, 2023,is forfeited.

EXAMPLE8. A servicememberfostereda childon Dec 1,2022.Servicememberswhofostera childpriorto Dec. 27, 2022,donotqualifyfortheexpandedparental leavepolicybecausefostercare wasnoteligibleforthe MPLPunderthepreviouscaregiver leavepolicy.

NAMING

U.S. NavyofficerwhoresignedhiscommissiontofightfortheConfederateNavy—willalsoberenamed.Battlestreamerscommemorating Confederateservicewillnolongerbeauthorized.

Spotlight:Commemorating World WarI

SomeArmybases, establishedinthe build-upandduring World WarI,werenamedforConfederateofficersinanefforttocourtsupportfromlocalpopulationsintheSouth.Thatthemenforwhomthe baseswerenamedhadtakenuparmsagainstthegovernmentthey hadsworntodefend wasseenbysomeasasignofreconciliationbetweentheNorthandSouth.It wasalsotheheightoftheJimCrow LawsintheSouth,sothere wasnoconsiderationforthefeelingsof AfricanAmericanswhohadtoserveatbasesnamedaftermenwho foughttodefendslavery.

Allthis changedintheaftermathofthepolicekillingof George Floydin2020.Manypeopleprotestedsystemicracismandpointedto Confederatestatuesandbasesaspartofthatsystem.CongressestablishedthecommissionintheNationalDefenseAuthorizationAct offiscal2021.Then-PresidentDonald J. Trumpvetoedthelegislation becauseofthepresenceofthecommission,andhugebipartisanmajoritiesinbothhousesofCongressoverrodehisveto ThecommissionissueditsfirstreportinMay2022,whichaddressed renamingArmybases. ThecommissionfinishedtheirmissiononOct. 1,2022andthere wasa90-dayperiodforpubliccomment.Thathas nowexpiredandtherenamingofthebasesmayproceedapace.

Spotlight:Commemoratingthe Vietnam War

FortBenning, Georgia,willberenamed FortMooreafterArmyLt. Gen.HalMooreandhiswife, JuliaComptonMoore. Moorecommanded U.S. forcesinthefirstlarge-scalebattleofthe Vietnam War. His book—“We WereSoldiersOnce…And Young” wasmadeintothe2002 movie WeWereSoldiers.

FortGordon,Georgia,isrenamed FortEisenhowerafterGeneralof theArmyDwight D. Eisenhower, theleaderoftheliberationofEurope in World WarII,andthe34thpresidentoftheUnitedStates.

Spotlight:Commemorating World WarII

FortA.P. Hill, Virginia,isrenamed Fort WalkerafterDr. MaryEdwards Walker—thefirstwomansurgeonintheCivil War, andthe only woman awardedtheMedalofHonor.

FortHood, Texas, isrenamed FortCavazosinhonorofArmyGen. RichardE. Cavazos, aHispanic-Americanheroofboththe Koreanand Vietnam Wars.

Spotlight:CommemoratingtheKorean War

FortLee, Virginia,isrenamedaftertwosoldiersandwillbecome FortGregg-Adams. ArmyLt.Gen. Arthur J. Gregg wasanAfricanAmericansoldierwhorosefromprivatetothree-starduringacareer inmilitarylogistics. ArmyLt.Col.CharityAdams wasthefirstAfrican Americanofficerinthe Women’sArmyAuxiliaryCorpsin World War IIandledthefirstAfrican-American WAACunittoserveoverseas

FortPickett, Virginia,isrenamed FortBarfootinhonorofArmy Tech Sgt. Van T. Barfoot,whoreceivedtheMedalofHonorforhisactionswiththe45thInfantryDivisioninItalyin1944.

Fort Polk,Louisiana,isrenamed Fort JohnsontocommemorateAr-

mySgt. WilliamHenry Johnson. Johnson wasamemberofthefamous HarlemHellfightersthatfoughtunder FrenchArmycommandduring World WarI. JohnsonbelatedlyreceivedtheMedalofHonorforan actionintheArgonne Forestof FrancewherehefoughtoffaGerman raidandreceived21woundsinthehand-to-handfighting. President BarackObama awarded Johnsonthemedalin2015,longafterthesoldierdiedin1929.

FortRucker, Alabama,isrenamedafterArmyChief WarrantOfficer4Michael J. Novosel.The chief wasan aviatorwhoflewcombatin both World WarIIand VietnamandreceivedtheMedalofHonorfor aMedevacmissionunderfirein Vietnamwherehesaved29soldiers.

Finally, FortBragg, NorthCarolina,isrenamed FortLiberty.

CourtesyDOD

Graphicfrom the Naming Commssion’sfinal report toCongress.

ceiveeducationorareferralbasedontheirriskcategoryandother healthconcernsifindicated.

AirmenandGuardiansidentifiedasnotmeetingtheBCPstandards willbeenrolledintoaninformal, self-directedBodyCompositionImprovement Program for 12 monthsandreferredtotheirmedicaltreatmentfacilityforamedicalevaluationandassessmentforadditional riskfactors.

Guardianswillalsobereferredto GuardianResilience Teamsasthey areestablished.GRTswillbecomprisedofhumanperformance subject matterexpertswithdifferentspecialtieswhocanprovideabroad range ofcareforGuardians, includingpreventivecare, performanceoptimization,skill-building, mentalhealthcareand spiritualassistance.

“Aboveall,ourpriorityisto shiftourGuardians’mindsetwith regardstotheirhealth,” saidKatharine Kelley, deputy chiefofSpaceOperationsforHumanCapital. “Wehopethenewbodycompositionprogramandassociatedholistichealtheducationalresourceswillinspire ourmemberstomove away fromanepisodicfitnessmentality toputting their healthfirstevery day.”

Acollaborativeandsupportive approachwillbeusedtoassist AirmenandGuardiansthroughprovidingtools, resources, andatailored actionplantoaidinmakingpositive changestowardbetterhealth. AirmenandGuardiansnotmeetingtheBCPstandardwillreassess every12monthsatthenextscheduledBCAoruntiltheymeettheBCP standard.

TheinitialresultsfromWHtRarenon-punitiveduringthe12-month informalself-directed BCIP. Failingtotestontime, notschedulingor missingan appointmentwiththeMTFteam or becomingnon-current maybecause forcommander-drivenadministrative actions.

Highriskresultsafter the12-monthinformalself-directedphase will be considered afailuretomeetstandardsandwillrequireenrollmentin aformal self-directedBCIPthatmayresultinconsiderationforadministrative action,including separationforcontinued failures

WHtRwillbetrackedviamyBodyComp, anewapplicationunder the myFSSplatform.

Additionalinformationregardingimplementationwillbereleasedat theinstallationlevel.

EVENTS

MacDillLanes bowling closure

MacDill LanesBowling is closed forexciting upgradesandrenovations.

Januarybasetheater movies

YourMacDillBaseLibrarywill be offeringfreemoviesatthebase theater. Moviesareopentoanyone withbaseaccess to MacDill. Visit macdillfss.com/library/foracompletemovie schedule.

UpcomingM&FRC events

Interview Skills – Jan. 24 Resume Writing (Federal) – Jan. 26

Visitmacdillfss.com/militaryfamily-readiness/formoreinformation.

Bay PalmsGolf Tournament

TheBay PalmsGolfCourse willbehostingthe “AlmostSpring orNotSo WinterClassic”onthe southcourseon Feb. 11. Teamsof twowillplaymodifiedalternate shotsonholes1-9andscramble holes10-18. Visittheproshopto signup yourteamtoday.

Becomeasecret shopper

Getpaidtocallorvisit6th FSS facilities. To learnmore, call oremailthe6thFSSMarketing Dept.at828-2513orsixfssfsk@ gmail.com.

OpenFSSpositionsavailable

Lookingfortheperfectcareer? Positionsare openforteens 14and up,dependents, retireesandactiveduty. Nopriorbaseaccessrequired. Visitmacdillfss.com/openjobs/toseecurrentjobopenings andapplytoday.

Findmoreeventsat: macdillfss.com

HonoringMLKJr.

U.S.AirForceCol.JasonParker,6thMissionSupport Groupcommander, speaksattheMartin LutherKingJr. ObservanceDayluncheonatMacDillAirForceBaseJan.12.Theluncheon and MLK exhibitwereheldin recognitionofthefederalholiday to celebrateDr.MartinLutherKing Jr.Day.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

NormalHours- Monday-Friday - 9a.m.to3p.m.After hourschaplain, calltheCommandPostat828-4362/4361.

Monday-Wednesday Mass - 12:10 p.m. www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

Catholic Mass - Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)

Protestantservices -Sunday - 11 a.m.

Jewish - MonthlyLunchandLearn:Forschedule&tojoin distro,pleasecontactelimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

IslamicService - Friday1:30p.m.(spacereserved)

OtherFaithGroups- PleasecontacttheChapelat(813) 828-3621orviaemailat6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

For moredetailsandinformation,visit theChapel Facebookpage at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’sChapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobyAirman1stClassSterlingSutton